Plug-receptacle for electric circuits.



Patented .Iuly 25, |899. J. T. HUNT.

PLUG IIECEPTACLE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

(Application led Aug. 12, 189B.)

(No Model.)

iIIIIIIIl WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN T. HUNT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PLUG-RECEPTACLE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 629,445, dated July 25, 1899.

Application filed August 12,1898. Serial Noi 688,417. (No model.)

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Beit known that I, JOHN T. HUNT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plug-Receptacles for Electric Circuits, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in plug-receptacles lor electric circuits; and it consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention is presented in this applicatiouas embodied in a receptacle of porcelain or other non-conducting material and having a face -plate secured thereto and provided with hinged doors, b v which the mouth of the receptacle may be concealed or exposed at will. The receptacle removably receives the plug, to which the conducting-wires are connected and which is furnished on its front face with a short tubular projection, through which said wires extend and which passes slightly through an openingin said doors.

The receptacle is at all times flush with the surface of the 'floor or wall whether the plug is within or without the receptacle, and when the plug is within the receptacle the hinged doors eifectually conceal the monili of the re* ceptacle and also said plug, with the exception of the Vedges of the tubular projection of the plug, thro ugh which the conducting-wires extend and which protect said wires from abrasive or other Contact with the adjacent edges of the said doors.

The receptacle is subdivided at its inner end or base into two compartments by a partition of non-conductin g material, and within these compartments are the posts for the main conductors and spring-contacts for electrical engagement with the spring-contacts carried by the plug. The receptacle has a removable side, which when removed -fully exposes the interior of the receptacle and renders it convenient, therefore, to apply the posts and spring-contacts within said compartments. The partition of non-conducting material, which divides the interior of the receptacle into two compartments, forms a barrier between the parts of opposite polarity,

and thereby prevents all possibility of short circuits occurring.

The receptacle presents many points of novelty and utility, and these, with the invention as a whole, will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Awhich-- Figure l is a perspective view of a plug-reeeptacle constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, ol' same, the removable side on the dotted'line 2 2 of Fig. 3 being omitted and the outerface-plate being in central vertical section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of same on the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a central ver tical longitudinal section of same on the dotted line 4t Il of Fig. 3, the doors to the receptacle being illustrated in their open position and the dotted lines indicating the position of the plug when about to be inserted into the receptacle. the inner end of the plug; and Fig. 6 isa perspective view of a portion of the plugreceptacle, the faceplate, removable side, and plug being omitted.

In the drawings, A designates a receptacle of porcelain or other non-conducting material; B, the plug, removably located within said receptacle, and C the outer face-plate, adapted to be fastened to said receptacle and also to the wall, Hoor, or other support to which the receptacle may be` applied.

The receptacle A is of rectangular outline and is preferably formed in two parts, (lettered D E,) the partD forming the receptacle proper and the part E constituting the removable side therefor and which side is held in place by means of a screw F, which extends trans versely through the receptacle from one side to the other thereof and through the enlarged upper end G of the transverse partition I-l, whose form and extent are clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The partition H is formed integrally with the part D of the receptacle and divides the inner portion of the receptacle into two compartments.

Upon theinner end or base of the receptacle A is fastened, by means o'f the screws a l), the spring-contacts I I and posts J J, one

Fig. 5 is a detached view of f IOO spring-contact I and one post .I beingat each side of the central partition II. The posts .I .I receive the ends of the main wires and are in electrical connection with the spring-contacts I I, which are in the form of plates and extend outward along the inner walls of the receptacle A and then turn inward toward one another and terminate in the annular extremities d, as illustrated in Fig. a, to lock upon the corresponding angular extrelnities of the spring contact-plates e e, connected with and extending inward from the body of the plug B, as indicated in Fig. et.

The plug B, of insulating material, is of rectangular outline and adapted to closely fit within the mouth of the receptacle A, and said plug is provided with the central oriice j', through which the conducting-wires g may extend. The contact-plates c c are secured to the body of the plug B by means of the screws h, as clearlyillustrated in Figs. 3 and i, and are provided with the inwardly-turned lugs j, through which pass the screws m, whose purpose is to receive and bind against said lugsj the inner ends of the conducting wires g, the inner ends of these wires being` thus preserved in electrical connection with the spring-contacts e. rlhe corners of the inner end of the plug B are cut away, as at yn, to receive the lugs j and screws m, in order that thereby said screws may set inward beyond the outer general surfaces of the said plug B and leave the latter vfree and clear to be inserted into the month of the receptacle A, said mouth conforming in outline to the rectangular shape of the plug B and snugly receiving said plug. The inner face of the plug B contains the annular recess Ii, surrounding the end of the central oriticef, and said inner face of the plug B has channels L formed in it, through which the inner ends ofthe conducting-wires g are carried from the lugsj to said annular recess K and oriiice j'. The outer end or face of the plug B has the central tubular projection M, surrounding the outer end of the oriiicef, and said outer end or face of the plug B is formed at its ends with the shoulders N, which when the plug is in position will contact with the upper and lower outer edges of the receptacle A aud form stops to prevent any undue inward movementof the plug. The opposite sides of the plug B are recessed, as at O, to form convenient gripping-surfaces for the fingers during the insertion of the plug into and its withdrawal from the receptacle, and for the purpose of cooperating with said recesses O in rendering it convenient to insert and withdraw the plug B the opposite sides of the receptacle A are formed with the bowlshaped recesses P, which will admit the ends' of the lingers between which the plugB is or is to be held.

The inner side walls of the receptacle A present regularplain surfaces between which the sides oi? the plug B pass; but at the outer portions of the upper and lower inner walls of the receptacle A are formed the shoulders Q to contact with the upper and lower sur` faces of the plug B and leave within the receptacle abundant space, within which the adjoining ends of the spring-contacts I l and e e may have their movement or spring action during the insertion and withdrawal of the plug. Then the plug B is within the receptacle A, the spring-contacts I I and c e remain under constant ilexion toward one another, and hence a veryei'i'ectual electrical connection between said contacts is maintained.

The receptacle A has upon one side the openings R It, through which the main conducting-wires may be passed to the posts J J. The inner end or base of the receptacle is entirely open adjacent to and coincident with said openings R, and hence every possible facility is afforded for wiring the receptacle by any of the known methods.

The outer portions of the vertical sides of the receptacle are formed with the shoulders` S S, which are set inward from the outer edges ofthe receptacle a sufiicient distance to aliord spaces for the lugs T, cast on the face-plate C. The lugs T extend inward to the shoulders S and receive the screws Y, by which said faceplate C is fastened to the receptacle and which screws, as shown, are not exposed at the onteiside of said face-plate.

The face-plate C is adapted to be secured to the floor or wall, as well as to the receptacle A, and is formed with the substantially circular central opening to receive the substantially setnicircular hinged doors IV IV, which close toward one another and are recessed at the central portion of their meeting edges to close around the tubular portion M of the plug B. The doors IV W' are formed with the shank portions t, which turn inward when the doors are opened, as shown in Fig. i, and which furnish the lugs through which the pins for the hinges may pass. The outer edges of the upper and lower sides of the receptacle do not extend outward as far as the outer edges of the vertical sides of the receptacle, and thus abundant space is al'orded for the hinges ofthe doors W IV and the faceplate is permitted to contact with opposite edges of the receptacle, while the shoulders N of the plug B are permitted to contact with other opposite edges of said receptacle.

It is of great importance that the receptacle A may be closed when the plug B is therein, as well as when the plug is not therein, and this is a consideration which is fully accomplished by the doors W IV. The substantially circular opening in the face-plate C renders it entirely convenient to insert and withdraw the plug B, since thereby abundant lateral space is ai'orded for the thumb and finger grasping the plug to enter the recesses O and P of the plug and receptacle, respectively, and this lateral space aiforded by the opening in said face-plate is closed by the doors IOO IIO

`W W" in a manner which does not detract in any sense from the neat and attractive yfinish of the article as a whole.

When in use, the plug B will be concealed within the receptacle A by means of the closed doors WV W, and when in 4this position the spring-contacts e 6.,. carried by the plug I3, will be maintained in firm electrical contact with the spring-contacts I I, carried by the receptacle A.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure .by Letters Patent, is*

l. The receptacle A having the removable side E and provided with the partition II and the openings R, R, to admit the main conducting-Wires, the posts J and contacts within said receptacle and carried thereby, and the transe verse screw F entering said partitionand securing said side E, combined with the plug adapted to enter said receptacle and provided with the contacts adapted to engage the contacts within said receptacle, the conducting- \vires g carried by said plug, and a face-plate to conceal said plug; substantially as set forth.

2. rlhe receptacle of non-conducting material having at the opposite sides of its outer end the recesses I), and the posts and contacts within and carried by said receptacle, combined with the plug carrying the conductors and adapted to enter said receptacle and provided at its opposite sides with the recesses O in line with the aforesaid recesses I), and contacts carried by said plug for engagement with the contacts carried by said receptacle; substantially as set forth.

3. The receptacle of non-conducting material carrying the posts J and contacts I, and the plug adapted to enter said receptacle and carrying the contacts e and conducting-Wires g and provided at opposite edges with the outwardly-projecting shoulders N for engagement with the opposite inwardly-set edges of said receptacle, combined with the face-plate secured to said receptacle and contacting with the outwardly-set edges of same at the sides of the outer end thereof not engaged by said shoulders N substantially as set forth.

4. The receptacle of non-conducting material, and the posts and contacts carried thereby, said receptacle having adjacent to its outer end the shoulders S, combined with the plug carrying the contacts and adapted to enter said receptacle, the face-plate C having the lugs T extending inward toward said shoulders S to which they are secured, and the hinged doors VV, for closing the said receptacle and concealing the plug therein; substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the receptacle A of non-conducting material and having the posts and contacts in electrical. connection with the main wire conductors, the plug B adapted to be concealed Within said receptacle and carrying the contacts and also the conductors g issuing therefrom at a definite point, and the face-plate for said receptacle and having the hinged concealing-doors Whose meeting portions are recessed to vaccommodate said conductors g; substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the receptacle A of non-cond ucting material and having the posts and contacts in electrical connection with the main Wire conductors, the plug B adapted to be concealed Within said receptacle and carrying the contacts and also the conductors g issuing through a centrally-projecting tubular portion M of said plug, and the face-plate secured to the outer edges of said receptacle and having the hinged doors Whose meeting edges are recessed to close around said tubular portion M of said plug, said portion M serving to hold the conductors g together and preserve them from cont-act with said doors g substantially as set forth.

7 In combination with the receptacle A of non-conducting material and having the posts and contacts in electrical connection with the main Wire conductors, the plug B adapted to be concealedwithin said receptacle and carrying the contacts and also the conductors g issuing therefrom at a definite point, and t-he face-plate for said receptacle and having the hinged concealing-doors Whose meeting por tions are recessed to accommodate said con ductors g, said doors being substantially semi circular in outline and having the shank ends t to which the hinges are applied and which when said doors are opened are on lines outward beyond the adjacent sides of said recep tacle; substantially as set forth. y

8. In combination with the receptacle A of non-conducting material and having the posts and contacts in electrical connection with the main Wire conductors, the plug B adapted to be concealed Within said receptacle and carrying the contacts and also the conductors g issuing therefrom at a denite point, and the face-plate for said receptacle and having the substantially circular opening and provided with the substantially semicircnlar hinged doors therefor, said doors at their meeting edges beingv recessed to accommodate said conductors g; substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in thev county of New York and State of New York, this 9th day of August, A. D. 1898.

JOHN T. HUNT.

Witnesses:

CHAs. C. Gini., T. E. HIPPLE.

IOO 

